Who knows. It depends on whether you can find another Fernando Alonso to replace him - good luck with that. The WCC picture actually looks a lot better than I ever thought it would earlier in the season. 2nd is a real possibility.

That was not the original statement, though, was it? Ferrari have renewed him. Therefore, he has done enough to retain his Ferrari contract.

No, but you already pointed out it was wrong, and I already corrected it. I´m well aware that Ferrari renewed him, and you were well aware that I didn´t meant that he was not renewed by Ferrari, but that he did not make enough to get that for most. So you were just being picky instead of adding anything.

Now you´re back with what was already settled when you have a question to answer. The evasive move is a good hint on your answer but... Could you tell us what you think about the topic now? Would you sign Felipe again?

No, but you already pointed out it was wrong, and I already corrected it. I´m well aware that Ferrari renewed him, and you were well aware that I didn´t meant that he was not renewed by Ferrari, but that he did not make enough to get that for most. So you were just being picky instead of adding anything.

Yes, OK. I was reacting to the excessively negative comments on here about Massa.

Now you´re back with what was already settled when you have a question to answer. The evasive move is a good hint on your answer but... Could you tell us what you think about the topic now? Would you sign Felipe again?

If he had not pulled it together in the last third of the season, then no. But, given that his issues seem to be resolved to an acceptable degree, and that the available driver options were not as attractive as they might be next year, I understand why they did it. If there is any possibility of Vettel coming aboard for 2013, it makes even more sense. Even without that, there is no guarantee that the available drivers would do any better next year. The only one I might have risked is Hulkenberg, and they can probably get him next year if Vettel won't come.

Even having said all that, if he has a good season next year, there is no reason why it has to be his last a Ferrari. He has to start it well, though, and be on Alonso's level.

I'm sure they will not extend the contract when better options are available. He is (coming) good, don't get me wrong on that, except last race which was a bit off, but unless he stays right behind Fernando in the WDC (and thus giving Ferrari a healthy chance on the WCC) I don't see him at Ferrari in 2014, if the car is up for it next season.

If he had not pulled it together in the last third of the season, then no. But, given that his issues seem to be resolved to an acceptable degree, and that the available driver options were not as attractive as they might be next year, I understand why they did it.

Forget about 2014, there ARE more attractive available options than Felipe for 2013. How would it hurt to sign Hulkenberg, Perez, Kovalainen, Pic... for one year? You really think any of these guys stuck on the midfield or even the back of the grid would not accept it? Don´t you think they could do what Felipe is doing, and with a good chance to improve it?

I don´t think Ferrari can afford another year with one driver carrying all the weight of the team, and I can´t see Massa keeping reasonable shape for a full season anymore. Why no trying something different? And don´t take it as a rant for Massa, it goes for Webber, Button, or Grosjean too. The other 3 have as a saving grace that they have done a good season recently or that it has been his first full year, but Massa´s credit has ran out long ago.

And that's the reason why you can't say that Massa will not drive for Ferrari in 2014

There´s a reason I can´t say that for sure he´ll not keep the seat. But it is not the doubts I have about what he´ll do next year, it´s the fact that he´s being renewed by default no matter how he does. But it won´t last forever.

I think Massa would have given the front two something to think about today had he put the same lap in as he did in Q2 and not been put back. He was awesome today.

Yeah definitely. But of course the irony is that Massa's grid penalty and not fulfilling potential in qualifying made his race look even more impressive. If he had qualified 4th and had to hold back just to stay with Alonso it wouldn't have looked so good.

If Massa could replicate this in the early part of the season, Ferrari would not revert to number one and number two, they've shown it in the past.

Funny he didn't before... The questions imo should be "why are the upgrades (or lack of, as Alonso would put it) have helped more Massa than their #1 driver?" and "is it a coincidence that Massa's pace has reappeared now that the team actually *needs him* to help in the fight with the bulls?"

I don't think we will see the best Massa in brazil, because Alonso will need to have Massa right behind him for the WDC. The only way to see a fast Massa, or a Massa " allowed " to go as fast he could, it's to see Massa on pole for a 2006-like race, where Massa secure the first place. For the WDC, Alonso need to be on podium and Vettel 5th at best.

If Massa couldn't take the first two row, his race will be compromised like at India or Korea, where Ferrari told him to slow down because he was faster than Alonso.

BTW, i don't think we will see a Ferrari on the front row. Anyway, it's good for next year, i hope Ferrari will give him a car easier to drive, even if the car is not the fastest, if it's easy to drive, Massa will be fast and will challenge much more Alonso.

Massa was blindingly fast today, who knows what he could've achieved had he started higher up. It will be interesting to see how he performs in Brazil where he is always super fast.

He will move out of the way as early as possible to leave the track clean for Alonso.Massa is not racing anymore, he is simply there because Ferrari needs to put two cars on the grid. As he said today "It is not easy to find a driver like me"

Funny he didn't before... The questions imo should be "why are the upgrades (or lack of, as Alonso would put it) have helped more Massa than their #1 driver?" and "is it a coincidence that Massa's pace has reappeared now that the team actually *needs him* to help in the fight with the bulls?"

Massa taking points off Red Bull is just as valuable at the beginning of the season as it is at the end of the season, so that argument is just nonsense.

Massa taking points off Red Bull is just as valuable at the beginning of the season as it is at the end of the season, so that argument is just nonsense.

Actually, at the beginning of the season is not that good because it doesn't allow the team to establish a clear 1-2 policy to justify bs like the one we saw today... Not that it affected them back in Germany'10, though...

Funny he didn't before... The questions imo should be "why are the upgrades (or lack of, as Alonso would put it) have helped more Massa than their #1 driver?" and "is it a coincidence that Massa's pace has reappeared now that the team actually *needs him* to help in the fight with the bulls?"

Massa is fast since Monaco. But after Monaco, he was fast when it dosen't matters, and always made mistakes in Q3 or in the race ( Canada for exemple ).

And if Massa isn't racing anymore, it's only because he was shit before Spa. It's his fault and not Ferrari fault. After Melbourne, Ferrari made a new chassis for him because he say that the car had a strange behaviour at Melbourne.... And then, at Malaysia, Alonso won and Massa was nowhere.

Actually, at the beginning of the season is not that good because it doesn't allow the team to establish a clear 1-2 policy to justify bs like the one we saw today... Not that it affected them back in Germany'10, though...

How would you explain Ferrari not moving Massa over in Australia '10, Turkey '10 or China '11? At the beginning of the year, the Ferraris have always been free to race. Massa has not been anywhere near Alonso this year for it even to be an issue until far, far too late.

He will move out of the way as early as possible to leave the track clean for Alonso.Massa is not racing anymore, he is simply there because Ferrari needs to put two cars on the grid. As he said today "It is not easy to find a driver like me"

I don't object Ferrari's decision, it's very logical that they have to maximize everything for Alonso to keep the WDC hope alive in this stage of championship, but still it's somehow a pity to hear such comment from Massa. It's as if his biggest value is his obedience instead of his speed and on-track performance.

he needs more performances like this one to be a strong guy.he also knows very well that the only reason he still has a drive is that ferrari were patient with him. he is paying it back now, that's a sign of maturity. no point in being a smartass now, he's got nothing to winfelipe needs to focus all his energy in getting a VERY strong 2013 start of the season. he needs to be there among the front runners and collect as many points as possible.

What should he have done? Had a big tantrum? I think accepting the decision and then demonstrating his speed in the race with a great fightback drive was a good example of how his character and confidence has risen in the past few months.

What should he have done? Had a big tantrum? I think accepting the decision and then demonstrating his speed in the race with a great fightback drive was a good example of how his character and confidence has risen in the past few months.

I agree, today he clearly did a better job. Also it's silly to say that he lacks character considering the situation he's in at the moment. Sadly for him - either do what you're told or pack the bags.

I certainly hope it changes for him as I'd love to see a repeat of 08'(with a better ending mind you )

Interesting to see Felipe in such a vein of form. To be honest, prior to the start of the 2010 season I thought we'd be seeing a lot of these sorts of performances where Alonso genuinely has no answer to Massa on a given weekend. I was surprised and disappointed at just how regularly and routinely Alonso was able to beat him, and by huge margins.

At least weekends like Austin and this show that he was genuinely a class driver during 07-09, it wasn't all just an underrated car and a massively underperforming Kimi, he could pull out fantastically fast qualifying laps.

Filipe has finally got a better understanding of the tyres, in combination with the teams in general understanding the right setup for the ŧyres to allow the drivers to push. Filipe's driving style did not cope well with the "raw eggs".

I worry for start of next season though when Pirelli will no doubt introduce some new compounds designed to unsettle everything again and Filipe will lose all his gains and be on the back foot to Alonso at the beginning again.